Splint



NOV- 10, 1935- N. H. ATTwooD ET Al. 2,060,001

SPLINT Filed June 6, 19,35

www l Muna/Z0, ZfBaugzmmz /r f m Patented Nov. 10, 1936 PATE T OFFICE SPLINT Norman H. Attwood, Robert F. Munch, Walter O.

Lickert, and Thomas A. Baughman, Omaha,

Ncbr.

Application June 6, 1935, Serial No. 25,324

(.15 1 Claim.

` This invention relates to splints and has for an important object thereof the provision of means which may be quickly and readily mounted n on the desired part of the body for holding the 5f part against movement so as to prevent further injury to the person, in the movement of the person, after a fracture of one or more bones.

Another object of this invention is to provide a splint or holding means for a selected part of l() the body which is readily conformable to the shape of the part to which the device is applied but which, at the same time, will prevent movement of the selected part where a bone has been fractured.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is so constructed that it may be applied to the desired part of the body by an unskilled person so that immediate remedial steps may be taken to prevent undue injury to the person in the movement of the person after a bone fracture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a splint which can be used a number of times, the splint being readily conformable to the diiierent shapes of limbs or body parts and which is so constructed that it can be easily and quickly sterilized after being in use for a period of time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which will not only readily conform to the configuration of the part to which it is applied but which, when applied, will permit free circulation of air so that the part to which it is applied will not unduly perspire.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which contemplates the use of the clothes as a cushioning means during an emergency so that the device may be applied at the place of an accident before the patient has been removed to a hospital or otherwise placed in the care of a physician.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from the following detail description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a splint constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numer- (Cl. 12S-89) v als of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral IU designates generally a web or body portion I0 of relatively ilexible material which, in the present Y instance, has been constructed of relatively stiff *5 wire mesh, although of course, we do not wish to be limited to the particular material of which the body Iil is constructed. This body member Iii has a pair of substantially U-shaped frame pieces II disposed one along each longitudinal l0 edge thereof and secured to the body I B, as by rivets or fastening devices I3.

The edges of the body Ill engage within the channel members II and these members are pressed together so that the edges of the perl5 forate or mesh material l0 are rmly Secured between the parallel arms or U-shaped channel members II. The opposite end portions of the body I0 are preferably overturned and covered by means of binding I 2. This binding or padding 2o I2 is secured about the overturned opposite end portions of the body I0 as by stitching or other fastening means I4.

In order to provide a means whereby the splint body I with the reinforcing or stiffening frame 25 members il may be secured to a fractured limb or part of the body, I have provided a plurality of straps I5 which are disposed at spaced points along the length of the body I0 and each strap I5 has a buckle I6 or other means by which the 30 strap I5 may be held in its tightened position partly about the limb of the patient and partly about the exterior of the body i0.

The frame members II are provided at spaced points therealong on the outer edge with a plu- 35 rality of loops or guide members Il which are fastened to the frame members i i, as by rivets or other fastening devices I8. These guide members I'I prevent slipping of the straps I5 along the length of the body I0. Preferably, the pad- 40 ding strips I2 engage over the ends of the frame pieces II and stitching I9 secures the padding strips I2 tightly about the ends of the frame pieces II so that these ends will not chafe or otherwise injure the patient. 45

In the use of this device, it will of course, be understood that the body il) is of a suicient width to engage partially about the part of the body to which it is desired to apply the splint and in practice these splints are made in sizes 50 to engage the lower portion of the leg, the upper portion of the leg, the body and the two portions of an arm. These devices may be applied to two adjacent parts of the body, such as'the upper and lower parts of the leg and the two 55 parts of the splint then coupled or clamped together by any suitable clamping means. Due to the relatively flexible construction of the body l0, the body I may be readily bent into the desired concave shape so as to snugly engage about the limb of the wearer. After the body I0 has been shaped so that the body will snugly receive the desired part of the body, the straps I5 are then Wrapped about the remaining portion of the limb and drawn tightly and Xed by means of buckles I6.

It Will be readily apparent that this splint device may be quickly applied to the desired part of the body by an unskilled person so that temporary measures may be immediately taken, that is, taken at the place of an accident so as to hold broken limbs or parts of the body against movement, thus facilitating the transfer or movement of the patient to a hospital o1' other place where proper medical attention may be given to the broken parts. It will also be understood that the device herein disclosed may be used in a hospital so as to hold broken portions of a limb or member against movement, thus permitting the knitting together of the broken bones.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

We claim:-

A device as set forth comprising a body constructed of readily conformable and relatively rigid wire mesh, a pair of U-shaped relatively rigid channel members disposed one at each longitudinal edge of the body, means for securing the channel pieces to the longitudinal edges of the body, a pair of padding strips, means for securing the padding strips one to each end of the body, a plurality of tightening straps engaging about the body for holding the body in applied position on a limb and guide members secured to the channel members on the outer side thereof to hold the straps against movement longitudinally of the channel members and the body.

NORMAN H. AT'I'WOOD, M. D. ROBERT F. MUNCH. WALTER O. LICKERT. THOS. A. BAUGHMAN. 

